OPC the de facto standard for real time communication

The OLE/COM standard (OLE=Object Linking and Embedding, COM=Common Object Model), Microsoft's object technology, integrates applications with a great deal of compatibility between the various applications. For example, a CAD drawing can be integrated into a Word document or an Excel table. Even applications that are programmed in different languages can be integrated. OLE is based on the binary standard COM and communication between different OLE components is possible. OPC (OLE for Process Control) is a communication standard that is based on OLE. It will allow for more efficient and easier communication between the different automation levels. Using the OLE technology, OPC defines methods and objects to achieve communication between the different software applications, no matter if these exist on a PC in the process management environment, or on process control equipment. OPC provides a standard application programming interface for data exchange that can simplify I/O driver development and improve operator interface system performance.